Luxury Hotels Europe

Of the 38 hotels one is hard pressed to select a favorite - they are all diverse, whether castles, palazzos, villas or state of the art modern. All boast manicured grounds so immaculately kept that they resemble Elysium. Eden-like settings give way to rooms decorated in kingly style and offering every amenity imaginable.

The Danieli in Venice, Italy, offers a rooftop restaurant with a breathtaking view of St. Mark's Square. A renovated 14th century palazzo, the Danieli is the epitome of elegance with a gilded staircase and chandeliers fashioned from Murano glass. Through the revolving doors is the hubbub of the Grand Canal; inside again one returns to an earlier time of comfort, quiet, and ease.

Speaking of views, the Villa San Michele was once a Franciscan monastery nestled in the hills above Florence, Italy. Today with its entryway framed by columns attributed to Michelangelo and private gardens, guests can look down upon the incomparable City of Florence.

La Reserve in Geneva, Switzerland also offers a feast for the eyes as well as the appetite with gourmet Chinese cuisine. If Germany is your choice, do stop at The Regent Schlosshotel in Berlin, which was once a private palace.

All of these hotels are, of course, five stars. If it were up to me, I'd give each ten.

"Luxury Hotels: Europe" is as beautiful as the hotels it presents - a coffee table book to enjoy for years to come.

- Gail Cooke